Delivering ‘advice in a way that is simple and easy to understand‘, King & Wood Mallesons‘ tax practice consistently acts in complex tax disputes, defence-side tax audits, and tax planning projects. Other areas range from transfer pricing issues, tax compliance and M&A taxation, to inbound and outbound investments, international taxation issues, and stock incentives. The team also covers personal tax planning, and wealth management and inheritance tax planning. Heading the tax offering in China, Tony Dong maintains an active practice in PRC tax and business advisory work, as well as tax dispute resolution; Bill Ye‘s workload covers tax compliance, consulting, disputes, transfer pricing, and private wealth management; and Daisy Duan has longstanding experience in providing tax advice for individuals, multinational corporations, and local and foreign enterprises. Other names to note are Zhang Ci, Liu Bo and Jessie Yu, along with associates Liu Xiang, Mona Lan and Xiaoyu Ma.
Tax: PRC firms in China
King & Wood Mallesons
Practice head(s):
Tony Dong
Other key lawyers:
Bill Ye; Daisy Duan; Zhang Ci, Liu Bo; Jessie Yu; Liu Xiang; Mona Lan; Xiaoyu Ma
Testimonials
‘A well-known law firm and very professional team.’
‘Willing to give advice whenever clients need it.’
‘The tax team has various talents, with clear and reasonable division of labour, and meticulous and serious work.’
Key clients
Pfizer
Goldman Sachs
AWS
YumChina
Paramount
MGM
AGC
Pavilion
Servier
CCB Trust Co
Jiangsu Shagang Group Co
Shanghai Linmon Picture Media Co
ASE Technology Holding, Co
AIA Life Insurance Co
Work highlights
- Advising Pfizer on the tax side to its business in China.
- Advising Goldman Sachs on the tax issues surrounding business restructuring projects in China.
- Assisted Jiangsu Shagang Group Co with tax aspects of the establishment of a compliance system.
Zhong Lun Law Firm
Acting for multinationals, domestic businesses and prominent funds, Zhong Lun Law Firm has an enviable market reputation for tax law advice, and individual and family wealth planning. The firm’s tax lawyers are highly experienced in cross-border taxation, its representative expertise including tax advice and tax planning services for cross-border investments and transactions. The group also comprises experts in tax-related dispute resolution. Scott Guan, Fei Wang and Mingjun Jia co-lead the practice, which showcases: Peter Ni, the firm’s former tax and wealth planning practice head; and Mark Gao, who acts for both companies and individuals on an array of tax work. The second line of active advisers includes Hengka Ji, whose wide-ranging practice encompasses international taxation and transactional tax issues; and Ashley Hu, who is experienced in the tax issues surrounding cross-border M&A transactions, along with companies’ day-to-day tax matters and ultra-high-net-worth individuals’ wealth planning.
Practice head(s):
Scott Guan; Fei Wang; Mingjun Jia
Other key lawyers:
Peter Ni; Mark Gao; Hengka Ji; Ashley Hu; Sakura Ji
Key clients
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
China Development Bank Corporation
DBS Bank
Work highlights
- Assisted DBS Bank with tax issues.
- Assisting Industrial and Commercial Bank of China with the personal legal and tax affairs of various private clients.
- Advised China Development Bank Corporation on cross-border tax issues.
Dacheng Law Offices
‘Armed with a wealth of experience‘, Dacheng Law Offices‘ tax law practice covers administrative disputes, tax criminal defence matters and tax civil disputes. The team also advises on domestic and cross-border tax compliance and planning, and is involved in international taxation work at international levels. In Beijing, current China tax business group head Xuefeng Leng is ‘a discerning strategist and seasoned negotiator‘, while Guangzhou-based Yongsheng Xu leads the global tax group in China. The practice of Jinji Wei in Shenzhen covers domestic and cross-border taxation, investments, foreign exchange issues, and international trade; and Lishan Fang heads the Nanjing office’s tax professional group.
Practice head(s):
Xuefeng Leng
Other key lawyers:
Yongsheng Xu; Jinji Wei; Lishan Fang; Wei Xu
Testimonials
‘High professional levels in the field of taxation and social insurance premiums.’
‘Yongsheng Xu has a high level of professionalism and rich practical experience in taxation.’
‘Xuefeng Leng is a discerning strategist and seasoned negotiator. Clients benefit immensely from his solid legal and tax knowledge, as well as his sound commercial judgements.’
Key clients
Sundiro Holding Co
AgFeed Industries
Korea Hyo Sung Co
Okay Airways Co
China National Aviation Holding Company
Tian Hong Asset Management Co
China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group
New World Development Co
Hebei Jusheng Commercial Management Co
Shanghai Shengqi Investment Management Co
DeHeng Law Offices
Leaving ‘a deep and good impression on clients‘, DeHeng Law Offices advises on the tax issues surrounding domestic and overseas investments, M&A transactions, restructurings, and finance deals. The team is also active in relation to the tax aspects of real estate, engineering, film and television, trade, securities, and IP. The firm additionally advises on wealth planning. Ming Yi‘s track record encompasses an approximately 20-year stint at China’s tax authorities; and Wei Sun predominantly focuses on tax inspections and responses, tax-related dispute resolution, tax risk management, and corporate tax planning. Also highly regarded, Peihua Lin ‘has a deep understanding of clients’ legal needs‘.
Practice head(s):
Ming Yi; Wei Sun
Other key lawyers:
Peihua Lin; Tiantian Qian
Testimonials
‘Peihua Lin’s team has rich experience in taxation, with high professional levels and dedicated service.’
‘Peihua Lin’s team of lawyers demonstrates a high level of professionalism and a conscientious and meticulous work attitude.’
‘Peihua Lin has a deep understanding of clients’ legal needs.’
‘The whole team leaves a deep and good impression on clients.’
‘Great for tax administrative litigation.’
Work highlights
- Represented Founder Securities Co (and a third party) in a lawsuit against the ¥590m implementation of a distribution plan.
- Assisted an accounting firm with tailoring a set of tax compliance solutions.
- Assisted Chongqing Gusi Trading Co with overturning opinions of the tax inspectorate twice.
Haiwen & Partners
Fielding several members with experience of working at international accounting firms, Haiwen & Partners‘ tax practice covers general tax advisory matters, due diligence, audit support, and tax dispute resolution. The team is also active in tax structuring, and the tax aspects of major transactions. Yongmao Guo‘s experience includes assisting several Chinese businesses with their outbound investments; and his sector expertise covers several industries, including finance, real estate, energy, and investment funds. M&A specialist Wenzhen Dai provides additional partner-level support; and the tax consulting practice of counsel Li Yang covers general corporate matters, M&A, restructuring, asset and equity-related transactions, and tax dispute resolution.
Practice head(s):
Yongmao Guo
Other key lawyers:
Wenzhen Dai; Li Yang
Key clients
Demant A/S
Beijing Huashui Education Technology Co
Jincheng Tongda & Neal
Jincheng Tongda & Neal’s tax law and tax planning practice acts for a wide range of domestic and international clients, including several from the aviation, energy, transportation, and technology sectors. The Beijing-based group is particularly well known for its assistance with responding to tax authority investigations, as well as corporate and individual tax planning, and the tax side to transactions. A senior partner at the firm, team head Zhaohui Wang, a former Beijing Taxation Bureau officer, specialises in strategic tax advisory work, tax planning, tax disputes, and tax-related benefits distribution. Flanking Wang, Yingchuan Chen‘s wide-ranging expertise includes tax compliance, corporate and individual taxation, VAT, and customs duties; and associate Yuanyuan Xu regularly acts in tax-related disputes.
Practice head(s):
Zhaohui Wang
Other key lawyers:
Yingchuan Chen; Yuanyuan Xu
Key clients
Beijing Shougang Huaxia International Trade Company
Beijing Joy Leader Culture Communication Co
Shenzhenkuaimeizhuang Technology Co
Work highlights
- Assisted an energy company with responding to allegations of issuing false VAT invoices.
- Assisted Beijing Shougang Huaxia International Trade Company with administrative tax litigation.
- Advised Beijing Joy Leader Culture Communication Co. on tax issues.
JunHe LLP
JunHe LLP‘s key areas include tax law advisory work, encompassing the application of tax laws and tax treaties to domestic and overseas mergers, reorganisations of domestic enterprises, and cross-border transactions. The group is also highly active in tax-related dispute resolution, its assistance including liaising with taxation officials, responding to tax audits, and pursuing taxpayers’ rights. The team additionally provides advice on customs laws. The practice is co-led by Hong Cheng, whose recent experience includes advising on tax efficient structures for new investments in China; and Tingting Zhao, who is ‘very experienced in handling tax disputes‘. The next line of key advisers includes Qing Zhang, whose industry expertise covers finance, real estate, e-commerce, media, energy, and infrastructure.
Practice head(s):
Hong Cheng; Tingting Zhao
Other key lawyers:
Qing Zhang
Testimonials
‘The team is very professional, especially in tax law, and it provides very helpful advice.’
‘Tingting Zhao is very professional – excellent for tax law advice, and can provide clients with very professional services and very practical advice.’
‘Tingting Zhao has strong professional abilities and is very experienced in handling tax disputes. Strong client service awareness, fast response speeds, and the quality of the delivered results is high.’
Work highlights
- Provided a tax structuring service to a PRC private company.
- Assisted a private company with a tax dispute.
- Assisted North Huajin with its joint Venture with SAAC and Panjin Xincheng.
AllBright Law Offices
AllBright Law Offices‘ tax team predominantly focuses on tax compliance, tax planning and tax disputes, particularly in relation to domestic and foreign investments, financings, M&A deals, bankruptcies, and restructurings. The team also assists with tax resident status issues, the application of tax treaties, international tax legal risk assessments, and cross-border income credit rules. A senior partner of the firm and expert in domestic and cross-border taxation, Bo Xiao, is the tax practice’s principal figure.
Practice head(s):
Bo Xiao
Key clients
Richemont Commercial Company
Medeno Medical Technology Group Co
CRRC Xi’an Yongdian Jieli Wind Energy Co
Air Liquide advanced Technologies
Jiangsu Weichuan Liquor Industry Co
Concordia University Wisconsin
Jiangxi Firstar Panel Technology Co
Jiangsu Purecell Biomedical Technology Co
Beijing DaHui Lawyers
Beijing DaHui Lawyers‘ tax group fields lawyers and accountants from both Beijing and Shanghai. The team focuses on the tax aspects of corporate reorganisations, M&A, and private equity and venture capital fund formations and investments. The group is also sought out to advise on individual and family wealth planning, along with the tax side to outbound investments. With ‘strong problem-solving abilities‘, former Ernst & Young Law lawyer Mei Zhang leads the practice. Zhang is an expert in providing PRC and US tax advice, as well as tax compliance assistance, to clients from the finance, TMT, healthcare, and life sciences sectors.
Practice head(s):
Mei Zhang
Other key lawyers:
Lei Yu
Testimonials
‘Dahui’s tax team has extensive practical experience in the field of trust taxation. They are familiar with the US tax system and understand the requirements and challenges of trust arrangements in US taxation.’
‘DaHui’s tax team’s strengths lie in its comprehensive understanding of the tax and legal aspects of trust arrangements, as well as the ability to solve problems creatively.’
‘Strives to create the greatest tax benefits for clients while complying with US tax laws.’
Key clients
Greenspring Associates
Work highlights
- Providing ongoing tax advice to a major international sports organisation in China.
- Assisted a global company with the China-related tax aspects of a large-scale, cross-border restructuring.
- Advised a technology company on the tax implications of its employee equity incentive plan, especially in terms of personal income and corporate income tax.
Commerce & Finance Law Offices
Routinely acting for high-net-worth families and their businesses, Commerce & Finance Law Offices‘ tax practice covers the full lifecycle of wealth management, growth and inheritance work. The group is particularly active in relation to tax planning and compliance matters. It is also highly experienced in the taxation side to complex M&A transactions. Heading up the team, Haoran Chen specialises in tax planning, private wealth, and tax and customs audit defence matters, while his sector expertise includes medical devices, education, real estate, finance, and retail. Providing partner-level support, Xiaoman Zhang‘s broad practice also comprises taxation and wealth planning.
Practice head(s):
Haoran Chen
Other key lawyers:
Xiaoman Zhang
Work highlights
- Acted for the founder of a regional FMCG retail industry enterprise on tax matters.
- Assisted the controller of an international PR company with the tax side to obtaining a visa from Japan.
Fangda Partners
Fangda Partners established its tax practice in August 2021, when it hired PRC tax law specialist Yan Zhao for its Beijing office (as partner and practice head) from King & Wood Mallesons. The tax practice covers a range of areas, including general tax advisory work, and the tax side to M&A deals, restructurings, IPOs, and project financings. It also assists with investment fund-related tax planning, transfer pricing, tax dispute resolution, and tax compliance. Another area of strength is tax advisory and planning services for high-net-worth individuals. Supporting Zhao at senior associate level, Linlin Cao has over a decade of tax law experience.
Practice head(s):
Yan Zhao
Other key lawyers:
Linlin Cao
Key clients
SK hynix
Edison Software
Tishman Investment Consulting (Shanghai) Co
Solidigm China
New Development Bank
Work highlights
- Advised an international bank on the disposal of its consumer business in the PRC.
- Advised SK hynix on various acquisition-related tax issues.
- Advised an international luxury goods company on the proposed restructuring of its China business.